Brake beam



June 14, 1949. w. H. BASELT 2,473,002

BRAKE BEAM I Filed July so, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 124A J12 J16 IN VEN TOR.

wax/31; 136L656 25 Patented June 14,, 1949 BRAKE BEA-IVI Walter H. Baselt, Chicago, 111., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 30, 1945, Serial No. 607,755

15 Claims.

This invention relates to brake beams and more particularly to a novel fabricated truss type brake beam such as is commonly utilized in railway brake rigging.

A, general object of the invention is to'design av novel brake 'beam which may be easily fabricated and capable of withstanding the severe stresses to which such a beamis subjected under railway service conditions.

,A' more specific object of the invention is to design a beam of the above-described type wherein a channel-section compression member is fittedwithin each brake head, a filler block being fitted'within the compression member in abutment with the rear web thereof and with the brake head. The brake beam tension member extends through a diagonal passage in the brake head and is welded to the rear web of the compression member.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a brake beam embodying the invention, and Figure 2-is a fragmentary end view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3-5 illustrate a modification of. the invention, Figure 3 being a fragmentary top plan viewof the beam, Figure 4'being a sectional view taken in the verticalplane indicated by the line' 4-4 of Figure 3, and Figure 5'being a fragmentary end view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Describing the invention in detail, the novel brake beam comprises a channel or U-section compression member 2, a-tension member 4; preferably formed of round bar stock, and a brake head generally designated 6. The brake head comprises a front or transverse arcuate wall 8 integrally formed with lugslll, Ill adapted for connection in the conventional manner to associated brake shoe'means (not shown). Intermediate its ends the wall 8 is provided with a hanger socket i2 (Figure'z) for the reception of anassociated hanger (not shown) adapted to aifordsupport for the beam in the usual manner. Top and bottom substantially vertical ribs I4, I4 are connected to the wall 8 and to top and bottom wallsor webs I6, I6 defining therebetween a recess or cavity I8 adapted forthe-reception of associated brake beam parts, as hereinafter more fullydescribed. The walls I 6; I6 are interconnected by a substantially'vertical transverse wall ZII-defining the inner-endof the cavity I8.

The compression member is a channel or U-section member and is disposed within the recess I8. A filler block '22 is fitted-within the compression member 2 in-abutment-with the rear web 24thereof and with the brake head wall 20, said block being provided with the diagonal passage 26. receiving the tension member 4, the outer end of which is sheared to-afiord a good seat against" the compressionmember web=2d and to afiord a maximumweld area substantially greater than the norm-a1 cross-sectional area of said tension member taken at right-angles to its longitudinal center line. The compression member web Mlis slotted as at 28 to accommodate a weldsecurine the web 24 to the sheared end of the tension member t and to the filler block 22,- thus'affording'. a sturdy, rigid structure. The webs I6, I6 of the brake head are secured to the'comp-ression mem ber and to the filler block as by riveting at 30, 30.

Thus it will be understood that I have designed:

a simple and'inexpensive truss type brake beam which may be readily fabricated and is capable of withstanding the severe stresses towhich such a beam is subjected in railway service. The arrangement affords an unusually compact and rigid structure in that the U-section or channel-section compression member is fitted between the spaced walls I6; I6 of the brake head, and the filler block 22 not only supports the tension member 4, but also bears against the rear web 24 of the compression member and the vertical web 20 of the brake head, thereby affording a compact and exceptionally rigid structure.

Referring now to the modification illustratedw ll merges with top and bottom walls I08 and H8 defining a recess oricavity H2, said walls I88 and H8 being offset adjacent the rear extremities thereof to define a relatively deep portion I M of the cavity I I2 for the purpose hereinafter described in detail.

A channel orU-seotion compression member-- H8 extends into the enlarged portion H4- of therecess H2, and a filler block H8 is fitted within the compression member H6 in abutment with the rear web I28 thereof and also in abutment with the front wall I84 which defines the inner surface of the recess H2. The outer end of theblock II8'is olT'set to define a relatively narrow guide portion I22 projecting outwardly from thebrake head and adapted for reception within a guide bracket (not shown) of an associatedtruck frame.

A tension member I24 extends through a 'complementary diagonal slot or passage I26 through the block I22 and is seated as at I28 against the rear web I20 of the compression member, said rear web being provided with a longitudinal slot I30 to accommodate a weld securing the web I20 to the block H8 and to the tension member I24 along the outer end thereof which is sheared to aiford a maximum weld area and also to afiord a good seat at I28 against the web I20. The sheared end of the tension member is also welded to the block H8 outwardly of the compression member I I6 along the outer margin of the beforementioned passage I26, as will be clearly apparent from a consideration of Figure 3.

A rivet I32 extends through the brake head Walls I08 and H and through the compression member and the block H8, and a pair of rivets I34, I34 extend through the webs I08 and H0 and through the block H0 forwardly of the compression member.

It will be understood that the embodiment of Figures 3-5 inclusive is generally similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that the beam is provided with a guide portion I22 affording support for the beam, whereas in the first described embodiment, the brake head 6 is provided with a hanger socket I2 for the reception of a conventional hanger pivotally mounted to the truck frame in conventional manner.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a fabricated truss type brake beam, a brake head comprising a recess, a U-section compression member fitted within said recess, a filler block fitted within said compression member in abutment with the rear web thereof and with the surface of said head defining the inner extremity of said recess, said block having a portion extending outwardly of said head and adapted for engagement with associated support means, a diagonal passage through said block, a tension member extending through said passage and seated against said web, a weld securing said web to said tension member and said block, and means securing said brake head to said block and said compression member.

2. In a fabricated truss type brake beam, a truss structure comprising a U-section compression member, a filler block fitted therein in abutment with the rear web thereof, said block projecting outwardly of said member to afiord guide means for the beam, a diagonal passage through said block, a tension member extending through said passage and seated against said web, a slot through said web, a weld in said slot securing said web to said block and to said tension member, a weld in said passage outwardly of said compression nientiber securing said block to said tension member and a brake head secured to said structure.

3. In a brake beam of truss type, a compression member comprising spaced webs and an intervening rear wall with a slot therein elongated longitudinally of said member, a brake head mounted on said member and comprising spaced portions seated against the external sides of said webs, a filler element between said webs and seated at its rear side against said rear wall and at its forward side against said head, said element having an opening therein extending angularly with respect to said rear wall and registered with said slot at one end, a tension member extending into said filler element from the other end of said opening and having a diagonally sheared end facing said rear wall at said slot, 21, weld in said slot securing said tension and compression members and said filler element to each other, and rivet means extending through said brake head portions, said webs and said filler element, one of said rivet means being disposed inboardly of said tension member end.

4. In a brake beam of truss type, a compression member comprising spaced webs and an intervening rear wall with an opening therein, a brake head mounted on said member, filler means fitted into said member between said webs and in abutment with said rear wall and said head, a diagonal passage through said filler means registered at one end with said opening, a tension member extending into said passage through the opposite end thereof and having an end portion adjacent said opening, said end portion presenting a surface angularly related to the longitudinal center line of said tension member and substantialiy coplanar with the internal face of said rear wall, and a weld connection in said opening connecting said wall with said filler means and with said tension member at said surface, said connection being located in the plane of the head adjacent the outboard side thereof.

5. In a brake beam of truss type, a compressicn member having spaced webs and an intervening rear wall with an aperture therein, a brake head mounted on said member, filler means fitted into said member between said webs and in abutment with said head and said wall, an opening through said filler means extending angularly with respect to said wall and registering with said aperture at one end rearwardly of the head in the plane thereof, a tension member extending into said opening through the other end thereof, and weld means in said aperture interconnecting said wall with said tension member and said filler means.

6. In a fabricated truss type brake beam, a channel-section compression member, a brake head with top and bottom walls embracing said member, a filler block in said member bearing against said head and the rear web of said membar, a diagonal passage through said block, a tension member extending through said passage and welded to said rear web, rivets extending through said walls, said block, and said compression memher, and guide means on said block extending outboardly of said members and adapted to support the beam from associated support means.

7. In a fabricated brake beam, a channel-section compression member with a slotted rear web, a brake head having a recess receiving said memer, rigid filler means within said recess bearing against said web and said head, a tension member extending through a complementary passage in said filler means, a weld in said slot securing said web to said tension member and said filler means, means securing said head to said compression member, and guide means on said filler means extending outboardly of said members to afford support for said beam.

8. A brake beam comprising a substantially U- section compression member, a structure housed within said member comprisin a guide portion extending outboardly thereof to afford support means for the beam, a tension member extending through a diagonal passage in said structure and welded to said portion outboardly of said compression member, and a brake head connected to said structure.

9. In a fabricated brake beam, a brake head, a U-section compression member fitted therein and secured thereto, a filler block fitted within said compression member in abutment with the rear web thereof and with said head, a tension member extending through said block and welded to said rear web, and means on said block extending longitudinally beyond said members to afiord support means for said beam.

10. In a fabricated brake beam, a U-section compression member, a brake head comprising a recess receiving said member, filler means within said recess bearing against said head and said member, and a tension member extending through said filler means and welded to said compression member, said filler means extending outboardly of said members to afford support for said beam.

11. In a fabricated brake beam, a brake head with a recess, a compression member therein, filler means between said member and said head in abutment therewith, a tension member extending through said filler means and welded to said compression member, and guide means fixed to said filler means and extending outboardly of said members for cooperation with associated support means.

12. A brake beam comprising a substantially U-section compression member, a rigid structure housed within said member in abutment with the legs of said U to afford filler means for said member, a guide portion connected to said structure and extending longitudinally beyond said member to afiord support means for the beam, a tension member extending through a diagonal passage in said structure, said tension member being welded to said compression member and bein additionally welded to said portion outboardly of said compression member, and a brake head connected to said structure.

13. A brake head comprising a compression member with top and bottom webs, a structure snugly fitted between said webs to afiord filler means for said member, a guide portion on said structure extending outboardly of said member to afiord support means for the beam, a tension member extending through a complementary passage in said structure, said tension member being welded to said compression member and being welded to said portion outboardly of said compression member, and means connected to said structure for supporting associated brake shoe means.

14. A brake beam comprising a compression member, a brake head connected to said compression member, filler means between said head and an adjacent portion of said compression member, said filler means extending outboardly of the head beyond the end of said compression member to afford support means for the beam, and a tension member extending through a passage in said filler means and connected to said compression member back of the head, the extremity of said tension member extending outboardly of said head within said filler means.

15. In a brake beam, a truss structure comprising a channel-section compression member, a brake head mounted at one end of said compression member, filler means snugly fitted within said compression member and protruding for- Wardly of the beam to afiord a seat for said brake head, said filler means projecting outwardly of said one end of said compression member to afford guide means for said beam, means connecting said head and said filler means to said compression member, a tension member projecting through said filler means in guiding engagement therewith, said tension member being of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length and having a diagonally sheared end, and a weld securing said sheared end, said compression member and said filler means to each other.

WALTER. H. BASELT.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,182,210 Osner et al. Dec. 5, 1939 2,356,720 Aurien et a1. Aug. 22, 1944 2,368,854 Leverenz Feb. 6, 1945 2,382,794 Johnson Aug. 14, 1945 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,473,002. June 14, 1949.

WALTER H. BASELT It is hereby certified that error appears-in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 44, claim 13, for the word head, read beam; and that the said Letters Patent should be read Withithis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of November, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY, 7

Assistant Gammz'ssioner of Patents. 

